(So...what was on my clipboard wasn't this chapter, but the one before...)

The silence was deafening. No one had spoken in the past three hours. Sweetie Belle had sat on the other side of the barracks, shivering from fear.

Scootaloo was nitpicking with her wings. She noticed that they were huge. Compared to Rainbow Dash's wings, they were about twice as big. Enough to easily lift her off the ground with as little as two wingbeats.

Applebloom didn't do much, just settled on her bed and rummaged through what she had. There was a large pistol, ready and loaded as well. She unloaded it, taking the bullet out of the chamber as well, with safety precautions. She discharged the hammer and it clicked back, showing that there was nothing in the chamber. She had been taking it apart and putting it together several times, testing her abilities with it. Strangely, it was easy. She was, as you could say, a naturally talented pony in the art.

She tested her time with a stopwatch which was inside her belongings case and got a best time of 4.7 seconds. She didn't smile, knowing that it might not be a good enough time in a sudden fight. Though, Junkie returned. He was holding a few guns under his right arm, and helmets under the other.

"We're going out now?", Applebloom asked.

Her expression was not anger, nor sadness. But in between. She had a straight look on her face. From one angle, she was sad, and another, angry.

The stallion sighed heavily, but handed each their equipment, "No, not yet atleast."

"Then when?"

"I don't know. It's up to commander Raven."

"Then before we go, I want some answers."

"Ask away."

"...Where is Applejack?"

Junkie sighed again, a frown and sad expression covering his face. It was obviously not a good answer to come.

"...Three weeks ago."

"Three weeks ago, what?"

"Three weeks ago she went down. No enemy killed her. She was our brute of the army commanders. Bore a sword and guns. Yes, she took out several thousand of theirs, but thats why she died. She pushed it too much. Commander Pinkamena went with her, but not as honorably. Grenade in the bunker. She dove over it, saved Commander Red's life."

"Who is commander Red?"

"You just called her by her real name, Applejack. In the army, whatever we were all before has changed. We are new beings."

"So, anyone else still alive?"

"Of the six, or all the ponies int he war?"

"The six. My sister and her friends. The six elements of friendship."

"Friendship? You've got that totally wrong. No one would dare call them the elements of friendship. They are the elements of honor."

"Whatever. Who all of the six are still...here."

"Three dead, one dying. Or atleast thats what the latest news brought. Your sister, commander Pinkamena, and Mother nature all went down in a single night."

"Lemme guess, Fluttershy is mother nature."

"Yup. The dying one, that would be the Black queen, or you'd call her Rarity. Sorry Sweetie Belle."

Applebloom looked over to Sweetie Belle who had assumed the fetal position. Tears leaked freely from her eyes, showing her sadness.

"I'll talk to her later tonight when she has calmed down."

"What about Rainbow Dash?", Scootaloo asked.

"She's very much fine. But living life as an earth pony for a few weeks. In fact, she should be back in the air in three days."

"What's her name?"

"Wonder Dash. After the Wonderbolts who fell in the first attack. That was the only time she's honored anyone's death."

"But she is still loyal right?"

"As always."

"Thank you for the info."

"What about...What about Princess Celestia?", Applebloom asked.

"Princess?"

It was gilda. She was standing int he doorway, listening the entire time. Her arms were crossed, her legs too.

"Well, it does seem something has happened. Junkie, go attend front gate. I need to speak with these three alone."

Junkie saluted, "Yes ma'am!", and was off.

Gilda closed the door behind him.

"Gilda."

"Applebloom."

Gilda stared at her, waiting for the question.

"Why are you here to talk with us privately?"

"Because of what you address everyone here as. You use their old names. Even my old name. I'm Raven, second in command to Rainbow Dash, and her lover."

"Rainbow Dash and Gilda...", Applebloom said to herself.

"What about me and Dash?"

"I have a question. And I think you can tell only us the truth. Did you feel a shock?"

Gilda's beak was clamped shut. She had been asked a very ensuring question.

"...Yes. Three years ago, when all this began."

"The last time we saw you, we were at a party. Pinkie Pie had arranged it. You stormed out, you and Rainbow Dash no longer friends."

"Then you are from...wherever we all were."

Applebloom looked up a bit more.

"Then we are understanding things?"

"Yes. Now make a decision. What do you want to do first?"

"See my sister."

"She's gone."

"No she's not. I learned back in the old world something which can be carried for generations. Love, and family. It's never taken away from you. Applejack never died."

Tears were streaking down her cheeks now.

"Stop, Applebloom. One thing you don't know is the shit I've seen. One things for sure. If you don't come to reality, you won't live to see her coffin as it's buried at the Canterlot honor gardens."

Applebloom began breathing harder.

"No! I will do what it takes. I will see her. Even if it's the last time ever...But no one, I mean no one, will tell me I will never make it!"

"Calm down. You need to start training. We also have to find your army occupation. Navy, Army, or Air Force."

Applebloom looked down, then back up.

"What is on the front lines?"

"Usually marines. Thats Navy."

"I'll take it. I want to meet them on fresh."

"Thats what we need. Scootaloo? What about you?"

"Air force. I want to put these wings to good use."

"And you Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie belle had stopped sobbing minutes ago, and had stopped shivering. Hatred was all over her face, showing the desperate need for release.

"I want to shoot them dead from the farthest possible spot."

"A sniper in the making. But what division? You can be a sniper in the Marine Corps, the army, or the air force. Air force snipers are flewn overhead. You shoot from the air, held by a pegasus. The other two, you stay on the ground."

"Whichever has the biggest gun."

"Army it is."

"What are we choosing these for, other than where we will be assigned?", Applebloom asked.

"To train you, of course. And so that we can set you three up as a team."

"Then...Then lets get this done. Anything else?"

"Well, for starters you're going to help end the war."

"And how do we do that?"

"Easily. You kill their leaders, or you take out over a hundred thousand of the enemy, like your sister."

"This must be a big war."

"It's planet-wide. Now, you all need codenames. Can't go aroudn with what you've got now."

"Hawk.", Scootaloo spoke.

"Bloody Mary...", Sweetie Belle Sounded off.

"And i guess I'll go with...Laura."

"Laura, thats a little unusual."

"It's actually my middle name."

"I thought Bloom was. It's settled then. Hawk, Bloody Mary, and their leader, Laura."

"Now what?"

"Training. Thats what. But you get only a month of it, and you have only a few days till then. So live up your freedom as much as you want. For now, atleast. Now, I'm already late for my session with Dash. She's been bugging me about having this talk for a week now."

Gilda saluted the three, and then they saluted back as she left the room.

"So, we have a field trooper, sniper, and air cover. Thats one of the best things I've heard about this situation."

End of chapter 2.